Lahore Qalandars, one of the premier franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have expressed a keen interest in acquiring a team in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Sameen Rana, the co-owner and chief operating officer of the franchise, revealed that negotiations are underway, signaling a potential cross-border partnership aimed at bolstering cricket ties between the two South Asian nations.
Speaking to Bangladeshi media representatives in Abu Dhabi during the ongoing tri-series involving the national team led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Rana conveyed his deep affection for Bangladeshi cricket and its fervent fan base. He emphasised that should commercial evaluations align and formal processes prove successful, the Qalandars management would readily step into the BPL landscape.
Rana noted that Bangladesh holds a special place in his heart, stating that his team is actively seeking opportunities to integrate into the country’s cricketing framework. Acknowledging that the BPL has faced administrative and operational hurdles in recent years, he expressed optimism about its core value. In his view, given the unyielding passion for cricket shared across Bangladesh and Pakistan, a domestic franchise tournament of this magnitude ought not to struggle for structural stability or commercial momentum.
The prospective entry comes at a time when franchise owners across global T20 leagues are expanding their footprints into foreign markets. Rana disclosed that he had already engaged in preliminary discussions with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal. These talks focused on sharing operational expertise accumulated over more than a decade in franchise management. Beyond their 11-year tenure in the PSL, the Qalandars group has participated in South Africa’s former GL20 Global League, multiple editions of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, and development initiatives alongside Cricket Canada.
Should franchise ownership fail to materialise in the current cycle, the Qalandars owner voiced a strong desire to establish player exchange programmes and high-performance partnerships with the BCB. Drawing parallels to recent agreements—such as a talent exchange pact signed with Guyana’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and hosting eight Zimbabwean cricketers at the High Performance Centre in Islamabad for a six-week developmental stint—Rana proposed similar reciprocal initiatives for Bangladeshi talent.
While official confirmation from the BCB regarding franchise allocation remains awaited, the prospect of an established PSL entity investing in the BPL could provide much-needed professional governance, commercial viability, and international prestige to Bangladesh’s flagship T20 tournament.